In the United States, one of the most popular places for deer hunting is Georgia, due to the wide variety of game that can be found in the place. However, you can’t just march over there and start shooting things (you can’t do that anywhere, as matter of fact.) You have to keep in mind the following things first:

You need a hunting license issued by the State of Georgia – this is pretty much in line with other hunting states. You need to apply for a specific license based on what you plan to hunt. Thankfully, the process can be done online, through an agent, or by phone.

PWD are eligible for a special license – If you are a PWD who is not gainfully employed, Georgia will give you an honorary fishing or hunting license provided that you can submit certification of your disability. This certification can be secured from any other government office, such as the Social Scurity or Veterans Office.

There is a deer limit – Georgia is very strict with the amount of game you can bag. A single person is limited to a total of 12 deer, only 2 of which can be with antlers and only 10 of which without. The age is also important, as the antlered deers must hav at least four points measuring 1 inch or longer on one side.

Lastly, if you are a first time hunter – it is always a good idea to go in with an experienced companion or partner, as you stand a better chance of doing things correctly if there’s someone experienced around to show you the ropes.

Hunting is very popular in the United States, and provided that you know what you are doing, is also one of the safest and rewarding sports/past times this side of the world. However, if you really want to maximize the experience, you should go for the places that are considered as the best places for hunting due to cost efficiency, ease of access, deer population, and less complicated process when it comes to securing a hunting license. These places include:

Dallas, Texas

Home of the famed Greystone Castle Sporting Club, Dallas Texas is your destination if you want to hunt a whitetail deer, as the place is known for their massive population. The only downside to Dallas is that its popularity can also be a hindrance. There is an immense population of hunters, so it can get a bit crowded in there as you all vie for the same prey.

Floyd, Georgia

The white tail deer population in Georgia has only increased in the past few years, which means it is not yet as popular a destination as Dallas so there’s not a lot of competition. Do keep in mind that there are concerns with depopulation due to a number of disease outbreaks in the past few years, but assuming the Floyd County hunters are doing a great job at keeping the population stable, while reporting a 55% success rate.

Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa, particularly Des Moines, is known for having a particularly high deer population. Assuming that you are hunting legally, you stand a great chance of bringing home a venison. The only down side here is that procuring a hunting license will cost more if you are not a resident. Hunting license costs amount to $123 and an application period of one month, which is a huge markup over the $30 cost that residents of Iowa are charged.

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy deserves a top spot in any list of hunting places in he US, as it is located in what’s called the “Golden Triangle” of Illinois deer hunting. It’s the place to go if you want to bring home a trophy buck, and is very close to Mississippi and Iowa, which means they also get the popular white tale deer roaming around. Additionally, Quincy also provides a lot of recreational activities that hunters can engage in while waiting for their time in the stands.

Iowa is one of the most preferred places in the U.S. for hunting, The deer population is just the right amount to accommodate the staggering amount of hunters who visit during hunting season, and the state also has one of the nation’s best venison donation programs, so you are always sure that your hunts will make a difference to a family somewhere. However, if you don’t want to make some novice mistakes while in Iowa, you might want to keep the following things in mind:

Enjoy the Small Things

This tip comes off as a hokey feel-good adage from a random film, but it’s actually very appropriate for deer hunting. The sport requires a lot of patience, and you are likely to get bored and frustrated real fast if you don’t learn to appreciate the small things that happen between your kills. These includes appreciating the birds, squirrels and coyotes you see while making that perfect shot, or simply chatting up your fellow hunters for the first time.

Hunt on Private Lands But Seek Permission

If you find it hard to score a kill due to the number of competition while hunting on public lands and wildlife management areas, you may want to hunt on private lands as the competition will definitely be lower or even non-existent. But you have to make sure you have the permission of the landowner, for both ethical and safety reasons. Public lands in the western half of the state are ideal for mule deers, but they will also be host for whitetails.

Break Old Habits and Take Advantage of Smaller Areas

It’s natural to hunt in the usual places, because that’s where deer is aplenty, but sometimes you can avoid competing with other hunters by taking advantage of smaller, less-hunted areas. These small areas can sometimes hold some of the larger unpressured deer.

Watch the Reaction of Does and Young Bucks

While you normally avoid does and young bucks, you should make an effort to watch them when you see them in the wild. Look at the direction of their gaze. If they frequently look over the shoulder, it is a sign that they are being pursued or followed by a much larger animal.

Carry a First Aid Kit For Your Dog

Hunting dogs are very capable, dependable hunting partners. But sometimes they are so dependable that hunters tend to forget that they can get into accidents and get hurt as well, and so forget to bring a first aid kit for the dog. Do not forget to ensure the safety of your ever loyal hunting partner when you go out to hunt.

It is understandable that hunting and shooting sports are seen in a bad light by people who don’t participate or are not interested in them. They think it is downright dangerous, mainly because it involves guns. Thanks to a minority of individuals who abuse guns, and their cases being sensationalized, people think that the same degree of cruelty and risk is present in hunting and shooting sports. But this can’t be farther from the truth. In fact, hunting and shooting sports are very safe compared to other athletic endeavors.

And what better to decide the safety of anything than the National Safety Council and the CDC, which found that:

Hunting with a firearm is statistically less dangerous than riding a bicycle, with people 43 times more likely to be injured while biking than they are hunting with a firearm in the US.

There were only 0.03 injuries per 100 hunters in 2015, which is less than the amounts garnered by swimming, volleyball, and lacrosse. Although hunting is still slightly less dangerous than playing billiards, according to the statistics, which we will have to concede.

Cheerleading in 2015 has resulted in 30 times as many injuries as hunting in the US, so statistically speaking you would be safer around a hunter and his rifle than a cheerleader armed with pom poms, it is best to keep that in mind the next time you watch football practice.

Before you get into hunting and shooting sports, it is best to emancipate yourself from all the information about the sport, as well as the mistaken belief that guns are inherently dangerous (as opposed to the people handling them.) A gun is a tool, and in hunting and shooting sports it is used harmlessly and under strict rules and guidance. A bowling ball or a billiard stick has the same potential for harm as a gun if in the hands of an unstable individual. People who enjoy hunting and shooting are generally patient and only do it for the love of the sport, not out of a misguided reverence for the gun in their hands.